Browse Articles

Discovering the dynamics of peach fruit mycobiome throughout fruit development season by high-throughput sequencing

Clinical and radiographic peri-implant parameters in type-2 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with major depressive disorder

Study on the correlation of electron spin resonance with pigment gallstones and trace Cu2+, Fe3+ in diet

Changes in disease burden and epidemiological transitions

Hierarchical multi step Gray Wolf optimization algorithm for energy systems optimization

Deep reinforcement learning based low energy consumption scheduling approach design for urban electric logistics vehicle networks

Few-shot traffic classification based on autoencoder and deep graph convolutional networks

Integration of wind flow effects in theoretical and experimental models for solar power generation

Modelling and optimization of Ge/GaAs uni-travelling carrier photodiodes

Abstract Uni-Travelling-Carrier Photodiodes (UTC-PDs) are pivotal for the advancement of high-speed optical communication systems. Current UTC-PDs have a trade-off between high performance and low production costs. The performance of conventional Ge/Si UTC-PDs is limited by the materials, primarily due to the relatively low electron mobility of Si compared with that of GaAs and InP. The UTC-PDs based on high-mobility materials such as InP have high production and fabrication costs, which limits their effectiveness in next-generation applications. Germanium (Ge) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), with their high carrier mobility and lattice-matching capabilities, are strong candidates for UTC-PDs. Their compatibility with GaAs and Si substrates allows for large-scale production and integration into silicon photonics. The Ge/GaAs UTC-PDs are poised to meet the increasing performance demands while keeping production at relatively low costs. This study provides an in-depth analysis and simulation of Ge/GaAs-based UTC-PDs operating at 1550 nm and demonstrates an innovative front-illuminated design. Simulations indicate a 3-dB bandwidth from 30 GHz of up to 54 GHz, responsivity ranging from 0.5 A/W to 0.7 A/W at -2 V, and device diameter between 5 μm and 8 μm. This research opens avenues for a new generation of UTC-PD designs, highlighting the feasibility and potential of the Ge/GaAs material system and providing new options for the development of future photodetectors.

Research on computing task scheduling method for distributed heterogeneous parallel systems

Abstract With the explosive growth of terminal devices, scheduling massive parallel task streams has become a core challenge for distributed platforms. For computing resource providers, enhancing reliability, shortening response times, and reducing costs are significant challenges, particularly in achieving energy efficiency through scheduling to realize green computing. This paper investigates the heterogeneous parallel task flow scheduling problem to minimize system energy consumption under response time constraints. First, for a set of independent tasks capable of parallel computation on heterogeneous terminals, the task scheduling is performed according to the computational resource capabilities of each terminal. The problem is modeled as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem using a Directed Acyclic Graph as the input model. Then, a dynamic scheduling method based on heuristic and reinforcement learning algorithms is proposed to schedule the task flows. Furthermore, dynamic redundancy is applied to certain tasks based on reliability analysis to enhance system fault tolerance and improve service quality. Experimental results show that our method can achieve significant improvements, reducing energy consumption by 14.3% compared to existing approaches on two practical workflow instances.

Pain classification using functional near infrared spectroscopy and assessment of virtual reality effects in cancer pain management

Machine learning-based prediction models for renal impairment in Chinese adults with hyperuricaemia: risk factor analysis

Recurrence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration after discontinuation of modified treat and extend treatment

Experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in selected hospitals in Imo state, Nigeria, regarding the usability and satisfaction of reminders using M-health features: a qualitative study

Modifications in hemoglobin levels associated with age in an outpatient population from northern italy

Graph convolution networks based on adaptive spatiotemporal attention for traffic flow forecasting

The characterization of clay minerals in the Kashafrud Formation in a gas field in northeast Iran

Biological significance of forced extra-pair copulations in a population of European Blackbirds

Statistical overview of the Sniffin’ sticks olfactory test from the perspectives of anosmia and hyposmia

Abstract The Sniffin’ Sticks test is evaluated by summing the scores of threshold, discrimination, and identification subtests to establish an olfactory diagnosis (anosmia, hyposmia, normosmia). However, variations in thresholds, ranges and inconsistencies have been observed. Statistical analyses (distributions, quantiles), protocol simulation, and implementations of the Sniffin’ Sticks test were conducted. This study contributes a statistical revision: determining a cut-off point for the total TDI score, optimising the number of alternatives in the identification subtest, and equalising correct responses (frequency, balanced in time, subsequent pairs). The upper score threshold used to diagnose anosmia is lower than the typical first-order error thresholds applied in comparable assessments (anosmia ≤ 16.75 points, hyposmia ≥ 17 points at 90% confidence level). In the culturally adapted 16-pen Sniffin’ Sticks identification tests, the frequency of correct responses was aligned with that of the original test. However, the equalisation of the frequency of adjacent correct response pairs and the temporal occurrence of correct responses was not met in any test. The order of all correct answers that simultaneously satisfied all three matching conditions was determined. The practical significance of the results is that the recommended protocol of the Sniffin’ Sticks test system can be implemented in clinical practice with minimal modification.

Favorable pharmacokinetic and tolerability profiles make carprofen an attractive analgesic for subcutaneous injection and oral self-administration in rats

Abstract As basis for evidence-based analgesia refinement, species-specific pharmacokinetic and tolerability profiles of carprofen were determined in rats for least aversive administration routes and prolonged treatment. Further, potential influence on behavioral pain indicators was evaluated. LC-MS/MS determined plasma concentrations in Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 21/sex) after subcutaneous (s.c.) injection (5 mg/kg) and during a 5-day treatment via the drinking water (d.w., 10 mg/kg/24 h). Irwin test parameters, clinical scoring, body weight, body temperature, fluid and food intake, grimace scale, burrowing, nesting, hematology, and histopathology were investigated. Plasma concentrations early after injection were higher in females, reached a maximum (Cmax) of 39.16 ± 7.38 µg/ml at 3 h after injection and remained above an estimated in-vitro-derived therapeutic threshold (24.3 µg/ml) for at least 6 h with a T1/2 of 7.06 h. Carprofen-medicated d.w. was readily consumed, with constant target dose intake over the 5-day treatment period reaching a Cmax of 38.68 ± 8.67 µg/ml at 24 h. Tolerability and behavioral parameters revealed only minor changes, such as transient sedation (s.c.) and decreased body temperature (females). Gastrointestinal adverse effects were not detected. Carprofen’s pharmacokinetic profile allows for a practicable s.c. injection interval. Acceptance and tolerability during prolonged oral treatment with the assessed dose of 10 mg/kg/24 h makes its non-invasive administration promising for analgesia refinement in rats.